“Air and Exercise” = being whipped with a Cat-o-Nine-Tails. Prior to the arrival of Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, American officers often imitated their British peers. In a rather startling example, George Washington once lobbied congress for permission to allow 500 lashes — “Air and Exercise”– as punishment to maintain discipline the Continental soldiers! Congress …
Continue reading “Beer Recipe: Air and Exercise — Rattleskull”
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. March 29, 1780 – SIEGE OF CHARLESTON: After approximately six weeks of siege, Major General Benjamin Lincoln, commanding the Charleston garrison, surrendered his forces to the British. It was …
Okay, sometimes I use this soapbox to rant but you can tell we are in for a nasty next few years (maybe more depending on who is elected). The HATE MONGERS are rallying their troops. At stake in this election cycle is literally whether the Bill of Rights, that set of amendments to the US …
Continue reading “Rights are rights and they should not be abridged.”
If you want to start reenacting or just want to explore the hobby, my advice is to join one of the better Revolutionary War regiments. Whether you choose to be Contential, Militia; or, for the stout of heart, British is more about who you are and what you want to learn. For me it was …
Continue reading “Defending the Empire: Being a Reenactor with the 43rd Rgmt of Foot”
Fort Mifflin Come to Fort Mifflin tonight at 7:00pm as we transform the Soldier’s Barracks into the Cannonball Tavern, complete with authentic beverages and hearty tavern fare. Enjoy 18th century tavern games, the warm glow of a cozy fire, lively toasting, music and the company of civilians and soldiers of the era. This is a …
Fort Mifflin Come to Fort Mifflin tonight at 7:00pm as we transform the Soldier’s Barracks into the Cannonball Tavern, complete with authentic beverages and hearty tavern fare. Enjoy 18th century tavern games, the warm glow of a cozy fire, lively toasting, music and the company of civilians and soldiers of the era. This is a …
In the 21st Century, I carry a laptop computer everywhere I go. You see, as an educated person, I generally work with my mind and for that to have any meaning whatsoever, I must communicate those thoughts, ideas, analyses, and such to others. While far fewer people were educated in the 18th Century and even …
In accordance with a 1750 act of Parliament, England and its colonies changed calendars in 1752. By that time, the discrepancy between a solar year and the Julian Calendar had grown by an additional day, so that the calendar used in England and its colonies was 11 days out-of-sync with the Gregorian Calendar in use in …
Continue reading “Does Anybody Know what Day it Really is? 1752 was a really Bizarre Year.”
Fort Mifflin Come to Fort Mifflin on March 25th when we transform the Soldier’s Barracks into the Cannonball Tavern, complete with authentic beverages and hearty tavern fare. Enjoy 18th century tavern games, the warm glow of a cozy fire, lively toasting, music and the company of civilians and soldiers of the era. This is a …
“To drink at a table without drinking to the health of someone special, should be considered drinking on the sly, and as an act of incivility.” Throughout history, toasting began after a meal and could last for hours. Toasts would solidify the bonds of groups, not only through the competitive element of drinking, but by …
Continue reading “Basic Colonial Brewing #17 — Make an 18th Century Toast”
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 